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What are ASD's (Autism Spectrum Disorders)?
There is a spectrum or range of disorders that look like autism and have shared features of autism. These include Autistic Disorder, Asperger Syndrome, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder. ASD's may be associated with certain other diseases such as Fragile X Syndrome, Rett Syndrome, Angelman Syndrome, Landau-Kleffner Syndrome, congenital rubella, PKU, or tuberous sclerosis. About 1 in 200 children have some form of autistic condition.
Children with autism have a higher chance of developing other medical and behavioral problems as well. They are more likely to get a seizure, or develop a tic disorder (involuntary movements). They have more stomach problems such as diarrhea, constipation, food allergies and GERD (reflux).
What are the signs of autism?
Social deficits:
Doesn't snuggle, arches back when held
Very little eye contact
Doesn't smile back
Doesn't look at objects that parents point to
Doesn't show or point to objects for others to see
Unable to perceive feelings of others
Doesn't show concern for others
Unable to make friends
Communication problems:
Doesn't say any words until after 15 months
No 2-word phrases before 24 months
Responds to noises but not to his name being called
Refer to self as "you", and others as "I"
Doesn't want to communicate
Doesn't start a conversation
Doesn't use toys to represent people in pretend play
May have a good rote memory for numbers, songs, etc
May regress in language skills between 15-24 months
Behavioral differences:
Repetitive behaviors (rocking, spinning, swaying, twirling fingers)
Likes routines or rituals
Obsessed with a few activities that are repeated many times per day
May read at an early age but does not understand what it means
Doesn't cry if in pain
Unusual or intense but narrow interests
Plays with parts of toys, rather than the whole toy
Looks at objects from odd angles
Behavior regresses after 12-15 months (for example, stops saying words)
Lack of pretend play by 18 months
Is there a test for autism?
Unfortunately, no, but the signs listed above, and many other signs, can lead to the diagnosis by a qualified developmental specialist.
What causes autism?
The exact cause is not known, but we do see a tendency for it to run in families. The sibling of a child with ASD has a risk of developing ASD which is 10 times higher than the general population, and may also be at higher risk for other developmental problems. There are changes seen on some imaging tests of the brain (such as MRI or PET scans) but these changes are not specific enough to be diagnostic or to show what the actual cause of autism is.
Some doctors in England once thought (back in the 1980's) that Autism might be related to certain vaccines, however this theory has now been completely proven false. Several large studies show no difference in the number of children with autism, whether or not they received vaccines.
What treatments are available?
There are no medications known that can improve the symptoms of autism. Sometimes medications are used to treat other problems that a child may have in addition to their autism, such as using stimulants if they have ADHD as well.
The major thrust of therapy is to help children learn to deal with their disabilities in each area. Autism clinics or therapists can train children with ASD's to improve their communication skills, work on specific developmental and behavior challenges, and develop better social skills.
Another form of therapy addresses the problems that autistic children have with sensory-motor integration. They may have extreme over-reaction to touching or noises. Therapies that use weighted vested, colored glasses, deep pressure, brushing or swinging have been occasionally successful, but no scientific studies have shown a consistent improvement. Obviously more investigation needs to be done, but the American Academy of Pediatrics currently does not endorse any of these treatments.
Beware of phony treatments!
Families with autistic children are often desperate to find a treatment for their child, especially when traditional treatments are very slow to show progress. About 50% of families with ASD children are using some form of alternative medicine. Some of these treatments may seem to help, even though scientific studies fail to show any consistent results in large groups of child. However, it is important to inform your pediatrician about any alternative treatments, especially if they involve ingesting any substances, since even "natural" or "herbal" treatments can have serious or even fatal side effects. Even something that sounds harmless like vitamins could be toxic if given in large doses.
Some treatments are benign, but just don't have any proven effectiveness, and might drain a family's financial resources. Beware of costly treatments that do not have any scientific basis.
Gluten-free diet has been touted as a treatment for autism, but there are not yet any reliable studies, and the treatment is still considered controversial. So far no drugs have been proven effective in treating autism. Secretin has been tried, but several studies have that it does not work. Several other drugs are being tested now but nothing looks promising yet.
Auditory integration training (AIT) involves listening to filtered music in a booth over a period of time. There is no evidence that this is effective at all.
Facilitated communication (where a "facilitator" is used to help a child communicate) is largely a hoax. This is different from augmentative communication where a child learns to use a letter board or computer to communicate. This is a helpful technique.
Source: Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD's) published by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Autism Support Group for Bowling Green
Contact Karen Thomas at karenmthomas@bellsouth.net or call 781-2118.
We meet several times each year on the second Sunday of the month at 2:00 p.m. Our meeting location is usually the BG Public Library on State Street in the conference room. Any parents, family members or professionals are always welcome. We sometimes have a speaker but always have ample time during the meeting for parents to share their current questions and concerns.
A Parent's Perspective
(Submitted by Lisa Logsdon)
